A fox fell through the roof of a children’s ward at North Middlesex University Hospital (Picture: Metro)

Anybody who has spent a bit of time in hospital will tell you that a visit from anyone breaks up the monotony.

But staff had to clear children from a paediatric ward at North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmondon when a fox decided to drop in for a visit – through the ceiling.

Major work has been going on at the hospital, which has put £500 million into improving buildings and services, and it is believed the fox managed to get in to the roof of the building through one of the construction sites.

Both patients and fox were blissfully unaware of the other’s presence until the fox stepped on the wrong roof tile and made an unexpected ward visit.

A spokesman told the Evening Standard that no-one was hurt in the incident, which happened in June.

While the fox landed in a ‘non-patient’ area of the ward, children were taken out as a precaution and the RSPCA was called to collect the frightened animal.

Around £500m of construction work has been going on at North Midlesex University Hospital (Picture: northmid.nhs.uk)